WTC presents Afro-pop Okaidja Afroso Trio
Afro-pop musician Okaidja Afroso from Ghana and his trio perform Oct. 28 at the O'Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish - Photo courtesy of Okaidja Afroso
Back by popular demand, the Whitefish Theatre Company presents the Okaidja Afroso Trio, a dynamic ensemble of musicians known for their spicy fusion of traditional and contemporary African rhythms. A family-friendly concert, Okaidja and his band will perform their high-energy, infectious music and dance Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Okaidja is an Afro-pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Ghana, West Africa. Born into a family of musicians and storytellers, his unique artistic vision has led him to combine the powerful, native rhythms of Ghana with diverse, unexpected cross-cultural flavors of folk, blues and pop.
Although Okaidja sings most of his hypnotic arrangements in his native language, the meanings of the songs shine through as he tells stories of his people, their journeys, and the African diaspora. Okaidja is known for smooth compositions, soulful vocals and spirited dancing.
By the age of 19, Okaidja was accepted as a professional musician and dancer for the prestigious Ghana Dance Ensemble at the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies. He became well known for his energetic stage presence and excelled in his performances that incorporated the Ga music from the southern part of Ghana and the Dagomba music from the northern part of Ghana. He began to incorporate sounds from multiple cultural influences from the past and the present.
In addition to Okaidja, who sings, dances and plays a number of instruments, other band members include Boinor Nartey from Ghana and Manavihare Fiaindratovo from Madagascar on percussion and vocals. This unique collaboration of rhythms and sounds “creates music that feeds your soul.”
Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students with reserved seating. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, 1 Central Ave., Whitefish, or by calling 862-5371. Box office hours are from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before a performance. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org.
An outreach concert for local students is also planned.